Croatia Airlines is studying the benefits of the Airbus A321XLR aircraft, which would enable it to potentially open up flights to distant markets, however, the carrier notes such developments are in the “distant future”. The carrier’s CEO, Jasmin BajiΔ, recently said, “In the long-term, aircraft such as A321XLRs may be considered, but that is a possibility in the distant future. However, we will always continue to seek out new opportunities”. The A321XLR is currently in production and last month received certification from the European air safety regulator. The first A321XLR completed its maiden flight in June 2022, which was followed by an extensive test program involving three test aircraft. So far, more than 500 Airbus A321XLRs have been ordered. Iberia will be the launch customer, with the jet expected to come into service in November.
Croatia Airlines has ruled out any long-haul operations in the near-future, with Mr BajiΔ recently noting, “Croatia Airlines’ fleet, both current and future, is adapted for regional intra-European traffic. Our primary role is to ensure connectivity within Croatia and maintain year-round links with international destinations. Additionally, given Croatia’s tourism-driven economy, we allocate capacity for strategic leisure routes, even during the winter months when other carriers may not operate”. He added, “Throughout the summer season, we prioritise connectivity while celebrating our two decades of membership in Star Alliance. This alliance enables us to provide substantial capacity to Star Alliance hubs, offering access to a wider array of destinations than our standalone operations could do. While overseas markets play a significant role in Croatia Airlines’ overall traffic, we prioritise efficient connections through our Star Alliance and codeshare partners”.
The A321XLR is a narrow-body aircraft with long-range capabilities, enabling airlines to utilise the aircraft on long-haul flights. It introduces the flexibility for carriers to add capacity or open new routes with variable demand. Christian Scherer, CEO of the Commercial Aircraft business at Airbus, said, “The A321XLR expands the possibilities for our airline customers and passengers. With its long range, the A321XLR enables a host of new direct routes, offering natural growth opportunities to our customers and the travelling public. It provides airlines with the efficiency of commonality inside the A320/A321 product range and its versatile cabin a range of service possibilities that are just unique”.
Should have done it when they renegotiated the A320neo order. 10 A220s and 2 A321XLRs. Could have been a complete gamechanger for the airlines.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteStop dreaming. This plane, even if ordered now, would start delivery in 5-6 years. Secondly, this plane is small and uncomfortable for US routes. None would choose this travel instead of other companies offering widebodies.
DeleteThis plane could work only for small demand routes, like Africa(what A3 is planning)
Many US airlines have ordered these planes. I think it will become much more common in the future. TAP is already using A321LR to the US, Jet Blue is flying them to Europe too.
DeleteAir Transat also uses them on flights to Europe.
DeleteThey had such a study in the nineties... They even had a "long range project manager". The story was similar an other one from the recent history with a director (ese) of finance... Byzantine court.
DeleteThose A321s that are flying transatlantic are configured with different cabin of course, with full flat seats in bussines class and more legroom in economy. Even American Airlines has a three class A321 with flagship first and bussiness class on it which it uses on flights from BOS, KJF, EWR to LAX.
DeleteJasmin is doing sttuning job, brand new a220’s and a321xlr in future! Wow, Middle Eastern carriers will fight for him in future! Bravo Jasmine, bravo to Plenkovic government!
Delete@anon 12:42
DeletePozdrav iz Rijeke?
They would need a supporting network to start long haul, which is something they don't have at the moment. Not strong enough anyway.
DeleteThere is a rumor that Airbus is about to release Airbus a220-300XLR. Perfect machine for airline like a Croatian Airlines. Jasmin is a visionary!
DeleteFirst they should study the potential of launching Zagreb-Rome nonstop.
ReplyDeleteHaha. Yes!
DeleteIt's far too early to fly non stop to Rome.It needs careful valuation!
DeleteThis aircraft could be perfect for OU but it's not going to happen, at least not anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteHypothetically, which long haul market would OU go for first? I guess New York.
ReplyDeleteJohannesburg
DeleteA321XLR has long enough range to service most East Coast destinations from Zagreb and Split. So probs EWR-ZAG year round and seasonal to SPU.
DeleteYes, EWR would make sense, considering it is a Unites (ie Star Alliance) hub.
DeleteCould IAD be reached with the A321XLR?
DeleteI am assuming places like BOS, PHL, DTW, YUL are doable.
Washington, New York, Boston, Toronto and Montreal are all reachable from ZAG and SPU with a normal-configuration A321XLR
DeleteCan't get to Detroit. Can't get to places in the Far East. Not great for cargo. XLR is not a solution
DeleteDon't waste your breath... Not gonna happen. Ever.
DeleteAs always, an avalanche of "may have", "could have been", "a fraction of a possibility in the distant future" etc, each time you read OU plans.
ReplyDeleteTrue, unfortunately.
DeleteThat is the definition of plans.
DeleteIndeed, but since OU is notorious for making long haul plans come true, this comes off as a childish dream.
Delete2045?
ReplyDelete3000
DeleteIt is too early.
DeleteGamechanger for Frankfurt route.
ReplyDeleteπππ
DeleteThis would be ideal if they got it with A220. Use the A220 to sort out issues with your shortfaul network and make it appropriate to feed your long haul network with 2 or 3 routes.
ReplyDeleteSilly post silly comments. They have permanent problems with low LF. Their Canadian jets will fly half filled.
Delete@09:17 good to notify us in the beginning that you are about to make a silly comment. π
Delete^Not the original poster but have you actually checked Croatia Airlines' load factor? It is quite tragic.
DeleteIt was like 60% iirc, which is pretty sad, yeah. Flew to Skopje with them awhile ago and the flight was surprisingly full, so I'm guessing some other routes are underperforming even harder
DeleteThe loads are much less of an issue in summer than they are outside of top 3 travel months when it is below 60%.
DeleteAnd I don't mean to SKP, I mean in general.
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteLol
DeleteThe "Bravo" guy/girl is late ...
DeleteThere was a famous saying by the renown English thinker S. Johnson
Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrel
Could the A321XLR do ZAG east coast of the US year round without penalties?
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean by penalties?
Delete^^^
DeleteHaving to take less passengers and cargo so as not to need a refueling stop somewhere.
During winter there are very strong winds in the north Atlantic that might add an hour and a half of flight time.
Yes, it would be without restrictions.
DeleteI wouldn't call a random brain fart by the CEO "studying".
ReplyDeleteIt is unfortunate OU does not have any immediate long haul aspirations. In the 1990s, when they were actually profitable and well run business, they had aspirations to go long haul.
ReplyDeleteWhy did they drop the long haul plans in the 90s?
DeletePolitical decision from the top at the time.
DeletePolako, ima vremenaπ
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to dream. But do hope it happens one day.
ReplyDeleteA220s were also a dream?
DeleteA 220 is a mistake ;)
DeleteWhich airlines have ordered the plane?
ReplyDelete25 customers
DeleteLets just firstly fix our European network and then try something new...
ReplyDeleteDoesn't look very convincing.
ReplyDeleteThese orders for XLRs should have already been placed and the planes should have been part of the fleet by 2026. By the time OU orders them, if ever, there will already be numerous operators and I would not be surprised they would be using the very same plan to serve Croatia.
ReplyDeleteIn 1994, OU had announced, published, and prepared for operation flights to New York, Chicago and Toronto, to be operated with ex-LH DC-10. They had pilots, cabin crew, engineers and ground staff which had experience on type, LH was switching DC-10 to A340, with favourable contract which was continuation of cooperation after OU took their B737's from LH. Flights were announced, crew (most ex-JAT) were waiting for refresher/conversion trainings, and then, bloom, literally overnight, decision was changed that ATR was coming instead of DC-10.
ReplyDeleteSad, OU could have been a very different company today if this happened.
DeletePod Francekom se znao red i smjer. Nije bilo uhljeba, ali su tada prevladali henessy boys i ercegovanci.
DeleteThey don't need long haul flights
DeleteAnd OU joined Star Alliance and Misetic entered back door of LH, became vassal of LH and after that there is no chance for OU to do anything else than fill Fra and Muc . And fly destination they are allowed. Misetic become head of Regional Airlines at Star Alliance and to keep it that way, Bajic goes on weekly basis to Misetic for consultations. So, whatever we discuss, future of OU is known very well; wag the tail to master and collect party “uhljebs”….
DeleteThis really is a gamechanger aircraft that could enable some ex-Yu cities to get long haul flights. Unfortunately, it will definitely not be part of the OU fleet, at least not any time soon.
ReplyDeleteWhich one is it, definitely or any time soon?
DeleteWith the existing A220 lease payments, I doubt this airline can take on more financial obligations.
ReplyDeleteTrue
DeleteRotations will increase, maintenance cost will drop. This leaves room for profit, I should say.
DeleteIncreasing rotations on routes where Load Factor is already low will only make things worse.
DeleteI think Croatia will definitely see the A321XLR at its airports relatively soon. Just not operated by OU.
ReplyDeleteFunny guy. The thing is, the French are the new Germans and Americans for Croatia. All we need is a Minister that understands the value of air transport, which will mark the end of BajiΔ.
DeleteOU doesn't have LH's permission for long haul. Who would fly via FRA then?
ReplyDeleteShallow.
DeleteMaybe if ties with LH were not that strong, they would be able to launch flights of there own.
DeleteIt is beyond belief, that uhljeb B is still in charge in light of the fact, that OU modus operandi has not changed in last 20+ years and almost never they approached net 0, let alone profit. That is why they dream low... Expansion....naaah, not for us, we are reagional player...
ReplyDeleteNo you are not, you are german feeder.
Annoying. Not because I think they should fly long haul but because his statements are just a confirmation that they plan to continue to be a Lufthansa feeder airline. I mean he literally says it in black and white. So much wasted potential.
DeleteLufthansa connects everywhere for OU!
DeleteThis is actually a great idea. Hope it happens.
ReplyDeleteNew York, Seoul and Singapore/Bangkok could all work.
ReplyDeleteNew York flights from Zagreb are long overdue but not with OU.
DeleteChina and Japan also have potential. But these will eventually be served by foreign carriers. Remember before the pandemic started Air Asia X announce Zagreb charters.
DeleteNot sure Seoul and Singapore/Bangkok can be reached with A321XLR
DeleteChina and Japan with A321XLR? Hardly.
DeleteCould have been successful on long haul with wide bodies if they started years ago. Star Alliance member, could have boosted regional network, has relatively strong diaspora, strong leisure demand in summer....
ReplyDeleteYes there was potential and much less competition back then.
DeleteA321XLR would be perfect for Split. I'm not talking about OU but airlines could easily launch seasonal flights. I remember how Air Transat wanted to fly to Split. Perfect aircraft to use.
ReplyDeleteI 220 moze dohvatiti JFK sa tehniΔkim sletanje u Shanonu na primer.
ReplyDeleteEasy to make statements to look good now knowing nothing will come of it
ReplyDeleteThis will be perfect.
ReplyDeleteA220 for europe and A321 to collect tourists in Asia or Africa + New York to ZAG and SPU!!
Here we go!
We still have to see if any airline will schedule XLR on a route of 4000nm or more. Without that real-world range, XLR can't make it from Zagreb to Chicago, Beijing or other major cities in China, South Korea, Japan, South Africa.
ReplyDeleteThe long haul routes announced are Lisbon, Dublin and Istanbul π€£
ReplyDeletehuh?
DeleteAre they really adding those three routes?
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcM1n1w89UQ&ab_channel=RistoDelic%28InFrameMedia%29
ReplyDeleteπππ love it
DeleteSurely, no airline can do such foolish fleet planning as to first phase out A320, replace it with A220 and thereafter introduce the A321 (XLR or not)? No thoughts about crew commonality, spare parts etc?
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying that there is no potential for the XLR to/from ZAG, just not with an operator without economies of scale.
I simply can't believe that this is true, that the airline would be so amateurish as to actually consider this, so I suspect that this is something they say as a "payment" to Airbus, helping them talk up interest in the XLR.
If they can have enough pax for a321 than Air Serbia should consider buying A380 πππ
ReplyDeleteAs company I work for has this EWR/IAD/YYZ routes in Star Alliance with LR, and greeks are considering the same, I do not see a problem with CTN doing it with XLR. But they have to order it now. Rooting for my former employer to start developing again, fleet change was the “end of the very likely slow end of CTN, Adria like scenario”, now a new idea has to come(like XLR), and a new, private capital possibly. AF-KLM and DLH are on a shopping spree and BA is on hold with it, but this has to be stopped, as soon we will have EU big 3.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteSmart
ReplyDeleteThere is a reason Aegean is doing it.
DeleteXLR can't fly nonstop from Athens to North America. Aegean ordered it for different markets.
DeleteXLR can reach the northern parts of the US east coast from Athens, but Aegean hasn't ordered that aircraft but the already existing LR model, which has shorter range and indeed they have in mind for different markets.
DeleteATH-JFK is about 4,300nm. Wake me up when airlines start operating that route with XLR.
DeleteKucko style vision
ReplyDeleteGreat news for our grandkids! Croatia 2075.
ReplyDelete